Loyola women's and men's basketball placed in latest GCAC poll

The Loyola University New Orleans women’s basketball team was voted by the coaches of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference as the top team in the 2009–10 women’s basketball pre-season poll, which was released on Oct. 7.

Loyola tallied a total of 77 points in the poll and received seven of the nine first place votes. Xavier came in at second place with 71 points and two first-place votes, followed by William Carey with 65 points, and LSUS with 62.

The Wolfpack returns four starters from last season’s championship team. Loyola will be aiming for their fourth straight regular season conference title.

The GCAC also released the results of the 2009–10 men’s basketball preseason poll as selected by the league’s coaches, and the Loyola University New Orleans basketball team placed third in the poll with 64 points.

Last year’s regular season champ, Tougaloo, took the top spot with 69 points and four first-place votes. LSUS also finished with 69 points while receiving one vote for first.

Loyola, who finished last season tied for second, had the second most first-place votes with three. Spring Hill came in at fourth with 62 points and two first-place votes.